Armenians, a group residing in Western Asia and traditionally from the Armenian highlands, were once thought to be descendants of Phrygian settlers from the Balkans. This belief stemmed mostly from the writings of the Greek historian Herodotus, who noted that Armenians were equipped in a Phrygian style while serving in the Persian army. Linguists also supported this idea, indicating that the Armenian language has connections to the Thraco-Phrygian branch of Indo-European languages. Nonetheless, a recent comprehensive genome study is challenging this long-standing notion by indicating no significant genetic relationship between Armenians and Balkan populations.
“This is the first study attempting to draw the genetic atlas of the Armenian highlands,” stated Levon Yepiskoposyan, a professor at the Institute of Molecular Biology, NAS RA, and one of the publication’s co-senior authors.
“For centuries, historical narratives have influenced our knowledge of the past, often leading us to accept certain theories as fact,” explained Dr. Anahit Hovhannisyan, a Marie Curie Fellow at Trinity College Dublin, and the first author of this publication in the American Journal of Human Genetics.
“However, advancements in whole genome sequencing and ancient DNA studies enable us to question these long-held beliefs, providing a more nuanced and scientifically sound perspective on human population history.”
The researchers also addressed another common assumption – the supposed Assyrian ancestry of the Sasun, an Armenian group from the southern region of the Armenian highlands, which corresponds to modern southeastern Turkey. This connection has been cited in various historical references, including the Bible and cuneiform texts. The study indicated that the Sasun have undergone a considerable decline in population size recently, differentiating them from other groups.
“When examining genetic continuity in the Armenian highlands, we identified genetic contributions from a group associated with Neolithic farmers from the Levant, occurring sometime after the Early Bronze Age. This timing and genetic lineage align with earlier discoveries in nearby areas, suggesting a large-scale migration across the Middle East following the Early Bronze Age. However, the exact origins, timing, and reasons for this widespread migration remain unanswered and require further research,” noted Andrea Manica, a professor at the University of Cambridge and the last co-senior author of the study.
The research team also explored the population structure and genetic diversity among various Armenian groups, finding a notable level of similarity among populations from the eastern, western, and central areas of the Armenian highlands.
“This is the first study attempting to draw the genetic atlas of the Armenian highlands,” concluded Levon Yepiskoposyan, emphasizing the importance of this research.
